"Dang it."

Josh read the label on the unnaturally orange carton: Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and potassium.

"Really, Josh?" Amanda surveyed the scene from the second floor banister. Haphazardly strewn about the atrium were packing materials, large cardboard boxes, and a few wooden palettes. "Elana is gonna dust you when she wakes up."

Josh sighed, placing the carton onto an unopened box. "She was complaining about the Council's new feeding rules. I figured I'd surprise her. Give her something juicy to drink instead of the pills."

"Oh, don't worry, she'll be surprised all right."

"But for real, why call your product SunnyD if it doesn't have any vitamin D?"

"Josh, please just clean this up."

"Uhh," Josh looked around at the mess, as if seeing it for the first time, "How?"

"I don't know, bro. Call back the driver and enthrall him or something. I'm going back to my room, don't want to be here when Elana sees this."

"When I see what?" A cold, stern, accented voice inquires from behind Amanda, causing her to jump in surprise.

"Elana!" Amanda turns, "Hi! Wow! Your, uhh, your hair is looking amazing this evening!"

Elana touches her unremarkable auburn hair, which is put up in a simple bun. "I have done nothing with my hair, childe. Why do you say this? You know I cannot check to see if you lie."

Amanda slips past Elana, "Oh, what? Why would I lie about that? Trust me, it's great. Anyways, I left something in my coffin. I'll be right back."

Amanda hurried off and Elana shook her head, confused.

From the atrium below, Josh called out, "Hi Elana! Um, don't be mad!"

Elana walked to the banister, her footsteps gliding, impossibly quiet across the carpeted wood. "Joshua! What is this mess?"

"Ha," Josh put a hand behind his neck, not making eye contact, "Well, funny story."

"I do not laugh."

"Right, yeah. So, I figured. Since the Council said we aren't allowed to have blood anymore, except for special occasions--"

At mention of the council, Elana's eyes flared red. "They are foolish," she interrupts, "Your whole generation. You do not respect the old ways."

"Okay, but, I thought," Josh stumbled over his words, "I thought I could, ya know, getcha a substitute."

"Oh," Elana's tone shifted, from anger to grateful curiosity, "Show me."

She motioned for him to bring a carton.

Josh faked a smile, grabbed the carton he'd set down earlier, and walked up the stairs. The old wood of the estate creaked loudly beneath his feet.

"Here ya go," he handed her the carton, "All the vitamins and minerals you need, in an easy to bite container!"

Elana looked over the carton suspiciously. "Sunny Dee." She sounded out the words slowly, methodically.

Elana looked at Josh for confirmation. Josh smiled, and nodded. Elana shrugged, looked back at the carton, and extended her fangs. She bit into the carton, and drank the bright orange contents. In seconds, Elana had drained the carton dry.

"Sunny Dee," Elana said again, "This is good branding."

"Yep!" Josh lied.

"Put these in the walk-in," Elana commanded, "There is plenty room."

"Of course," Josh nodded his relieved assent, "Anything else?"

"Yes. Tell me, childe, why did Amanda leave?"

Panic bloomed pink on Josh's cheeks, "Right, umm. Yeah. You know her, she's just.. weird."

Elana bobbed her head, "You speak truth. I do not understand that one at all."

"Well, I'm gonna get to work here. You headed out?"

Elana walked down the stairs, "Council meeting is tonight. I am going to tell them what I think of new feeding policy." She smirked, her eyes burning ever so slightly red.

Josh gulped down his anxiety, "Welp, good luck!"

As the twin mahogany doors shut behind Elana, Amanda peeked out from her room further down the hallway

"Did she dust you?" Amanda asked.

"Not yet," Josh made a fist over his chest and shuddered.

"Cool lie, by the way."

"You heard all that?"

"Yup. So, like, one problem. What are you going to do when this garbage doesn't keep away the Hunger and she tries to kill us for real?"

"Well, you wanna help me supplement all these?"

"Absolutely not."

Josh sighed, "Okay, in that case, could you call back up the delivery driver?"

"Oooo," Amanda's face lit up, and she grinned, flashing her fangs, "Special occasion?"

"Yeah," Josh said, "special occasion."